So you want to start carp fishing? Pt1

[Graham Marsden]

This is a dedicated thread for discussing article: So you want to start carp fishing? Pt1

[Rasmus Keis]

Nice article, but is it just me, or are the recommended TC's on the rods a bit on the heavy side? Is a 3 lb carp rod not a very heavy rod? Or is it the method (madness) that has made such rods popular?
I'm not an experienced carp angler, but I can't think of a single lake in Denmark, where I would be needing anything above 2,75. Is it because I don't fish extreme distances or...??

[geoffmaynard]

A lot of it is fashion Rasmus.
When I started carp fishing a heavy rod was 2.5lb. Today, long distance casting demands the heavier rods. Fortunately they are not the broom handles they once were. Today, any rod rated below 2.25lb seems to be considered a barbel rod with carp rods starting at 2.5lb.

[Ian Gemson]

Hi Rasmus
Sorry who is recommending heavy rods ?.

[noknot]

I don't think Ian is recomending the use of high TC rods, just a general guide to water types/TC and casting weights.

One thing though Ian, in your opinion, why are the TC used today heavier than a few years ago? As Geoff has correctly stated, a 2.75lbs TC rod was a powerful tool 20 years ago. I still prefere to use the lightest TC for the right situation in hand, and will use a higher TC for range work. Thats just my preference, but today, many Carp rods "start" at 2.5lbs TC, why is this?

[Jim Crosskey 2]

Good point noknot.

Is it also worth considering the vagueries of the manufacturer's and their labels? E.g. I bought two 1.75lb tc wychwood barbels rods, which I really wanted for lighter carp fishing. I've never been attracted to distance casting and generally fish close... Anyway, the test curve and feel of these seemed to be identical to the 2.5lb tc rods I'd previously been using.

I frequently fish now with 1.25lb tc rods for carp and have caught fish well in to upper double figures with no trouble at all. It does suprise me too that "proper" carp rods only seem to start from 2.5lb?

[Rasmus Keis]

Sorry if I have made some language error, but my point was exactly as stated by Noknot.

I think the point mentioned by Jim is very interesting. We see the same thing with fly rods, where some fast taper 5 weights sometimes handles same lines as older 8 weight rods. There are no standard for fly rods, but aren´t the TC on carp rods measured the same way? Or how much do stated TC differ from the one stated on the rods?

[noknot]

Originally Posted by Rasmus Keis

Sorry if I have made some language error, but my point was exactly as stated by Noknot.

I think the point mentioned by Jim is very interesting. We see the same thing with fly rods, where some fast taper 5 weights sometimes handles same lines as older 8 weight rods. There are no standard for fly rods, but aren´t the TC on carp rods measured the same way? Or how much do stated TC differ from the one stated on the rods?

Hi Rasmus,

The stated TC of a rod should be the same, eg: Two different makes of rods with the same TC should be "similar" This is where the "action" of the rod comes into play as Ian has stated. I think that today the TC rating is only a guide to the rods power, ie: 1.25 is light, 2.25 is medium and a 3.25 is a heavy rod, it is really the action+TC which tells us what the rod is designed for, hope this helps.

NoKnot.

---------- Post added at 10:44 ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 ----------

Originally Posted by Jim Crosskey 2

I frequently fish now with 1.25lb tc rods for carp and have caught fish well in to upper double figures with no trouble at all. It does suprise me too that "proper" carp rods only seem to start from 2.5lb?

My UK PB Mirror was caught using a 1.25lbs TC from a very weedy water at 40 yrd's range, as you stated, with no trouble at all, that was a 30+ Makes you think don't it?

[Jim Crosskey 2]

I guess a lot of it comes down to application, obviously you can't get a cast much over 50 yards (with any accuracy) with a lighter rod.

And a big method feeder or larger PVA bag is also out.

Using the lighter rods, I'll tend to use a small lead (as small as 0.5oz sometimes) and a small PVA mesh bag wit ha few pellets. I've seen lots written about the better hooking properties of a 3oz lead, but to be honest its a sacrifice I can make in order to enjoy the fish I catch more.

One thing I will still use is a reasonably heavy line, say 10 or 12 lb b.s.. I think people who've never felt the cork on the handle start to move are missing something!

That said, if I has more time to fish than I do, I'd want to have a crack at larger waters and get better at fishing at distance. I know for a fact that the light rods would be pretty useless in those circumstances.

(Didn't Walker and Yates both use lighter rods to catch their record carp?)

[noknot]

Yes indeed they did Jim,

As I stated in a previous post, I try to use the right tools for the job in hand, and yes feeling the rod bending under the reel seat is awesome and to me what it is all about!